One hand operable distress signal

ABSTRACT

A hand-held pyrotechnic device having a housing containing a quantity of pyrotechnic material, a primer for igniting the pyrotechnic material, a pivotally mounted firing pin for detonating the primer, a spring for actuating the firing pin and a manually actuated push-rod for pivoting the firing pin and increasing spring pressure and then releasing the firing pin after a predetermined amount of pivoting of the firing pin.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,908,550

Beatty et al. Sept. 30, 1975 1 ONE HAND OPERABLE DISTRESS SIGNAL 3.l67 050 l/l965 Johnson 102/90 3,224,232 12 I965 D 'k lOZ 37.4 [75] Inventors: Bobby D. Beatty, Bloomington; Zvom Stanley J. Herold, Switz City; Donald E. LaGr nge, hing Primary E.\'uminerHarvey E. Behrend David K- n r mi g all Assistant E.\'aminerC. T. Jordan 0f Attorney, Agent, or Firm-R. S. Sciascia; Paul S. [73] Assignee: The United States of America as Colhgnon represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC. 22 Filed: Apr. 10, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [21 Appl. No; 459,768 A hand-held pyrotechnic device having a housing containing a quantity of pyrotechnic material, a primer [5.)] U s C] 102/37 102/37 8 for igniting the pyrotechnic material, a pivotally 1'] i 4/2'0 mounted firing pin for detonating the primer, a spring [58] Fie'ld 37 6 37 8 for actuating the firing pin and a manually actuated i push-rod for pivoting the firing pin and increasing Spring pressure and then releasing the firing pin after a [56] References Cited predetermined amount of pivoting of the firing pin.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 2.595.939 5/1952 Griffith l02/37.4

Z8 Z2 33 34 [I [6) 7 Sapt. 30,1975

ONE HAND OPERABLE DISTRESS SIGNAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hand-held signaling device and more particularly to a device for producing either smoke or light and which can be readily actuated by using only one hand.

Various types of hand-held pyrotechnic devices are used by the military departments primarily for signaling purposes. In one type of Navy flare, which is sometimes referred to as a Railroad Warning flare, ignition is made by a friction igniter. One end of the flare is closed by a cover which has an exterior coating of the same abrasive material found on the side of a safety-match box. Beneath the cover is a small cotton wad that protects the friction igniter which is impregnated in a cloth substance covering the pyrotechnic composition. This friction igniter is the same material as is used in the head of a safety matchLThe signal is ignited by scraping the inverted cover across the friction igniter.

In another type of friction ignition device, a pull wire is provided to ignite a primer. A sharp, quick pull on a ring moves a friction wire through igniter material and causes ignition thereof, and this igniter material, in turn, ignites either a smoke mixture, for day use, or a pyrotechnic candle, for night use.

While the above-described handheld ignition devices are still being used by the military departments,

reliability is not as good as desired and also ignition of these devices normally require the use of both hands. Accordingly, in the event a person might be in the water and holding onto a raft, or in the event a person might be injured, ignition devices which require the use of both hands are undesirable.

A third, and more sophisticated triggering device, utilizes a spring actuated striker assembly. One such device is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,l67,050, which issued Jan. 26, 1965, to Glenn C. Johnson. In this patented device, a striker assembly is maintained in a cocked position by a cover that is slidably attached to the container. The cover can be removed by pushing sideways, and as the cover becomes disengaged, the striker assembly is actuated to ignite a primer which, in turn, ignites the signal producing composition. This device is constructed so that it can be operated by using only one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a container having a smoke-producing composition in one end and a flare composition in the other end. Each pyrotechnic composition is contained in a separate inner container which in turn are housed in a telescoping fashion in each end of an outer container. A spring is provided for extending each inner container and a locking lever is provided for retaining the inner container inside the outer container. Once the inner container is extended, a manual firing lever is accessible for actuating a firing pin which detonates a primer and, in turn, ignites a pyrotechnic material.

It is therefore a general obejct of the present invention to provide an improved firing device for a handheld pyrotechnic signal.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment showing a smoke container in an extended position;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing a firing pin being actuated; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing a firing pin detonating a primer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a cylindrical housing 11 that has slidably mounted therein containers 12 and 13. A smoke mixture 14 is provided in container 12 and a flare composition 15 is provided in container 13. By way of example, smoke mixture 14 and flare composition 15 might be formulated as described in US. Pat. No. 3,167,050, which issued Jan. 26, 1965, to G. C. Johnson. A pair of springs 16 and 17 are provided for extending containers I2 and 13, respectively, and arming levers 18, which are pivotally connected to housing 11, are provided for retaining the containers within housing 11. Springs 19 are provided for keeping levers 18 in a latched position, with hook 21 on lever 18 being engaged with a forward lip 22 on the covers 26 of the containers. A boss 20 is provided around container 11 at the flare end in order to orient the housing in darkness.

As the firing mechanism is the same for both the smoke composition and the flare composition, only the mechanism for firing the smoke composition will be discussed. A primer 23 is provided for igniting smoke composition 14, and a firing pin 24, having a tang 25 thereon, is rotatably attached to cover 26 which closes container 12 by means of arm 27. A barrier 28, having a slot 29 therein, is positioned between firing pin 24 and primer 23, with tang 25 being positioned in slot 29. A spring 31 is positioned around shaft 32 about which arm 27 is rotatable, and spring 31 biases firing pin 24 against barrier 28. Barrier 28 is threadedly attached to shaft 33 which is slidably mounted in container 12, and a firing button 34 is attached to one end of shaft 33 to facilitate actuation of shaft 33.

OPERATION In operation, an operator, such as a downed pilot, first'determines which pyrotechnic composition is to be ignited. During daylight hours, smoke composition 14 would normally be ignited and, during darkness, the flare composition would be ignited. In darkness, boss 20 helps identify the end of container 11 housing the flare composition.

Assuming it is desired to ignite smoke composition 14, lever 18 is pivotally actuated so that hook 21 disengages lip 22 on the covers 26 of container 12 and spring 16 extends container 12, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. With container 12 being extended, firing button 34 is now accessible. When ignition of smoke composition 14 is desired, firing button 34 is pushed outwardly and shaft 33 is slidably moved in container 12. Barrier 28, which is threadedly attached to the end of shaft 33, moves outwardly and causes arm 27 holding firing pin 24 to pivot about shaft 32. Slot 29 in barrier 28 prevents tang 25 on firing pin 24 from binding the barrier 28, as barrier 28 moves linearly and firing pin 24 moves in an arcuate path. As arm 27 rotates, spring 31 becomes tightened and, upon disengagement of barrier 28 with firing pin 24, firing pin 24 is driven by spring 31 in a reverse direction to detonate primer 23 which, in turn, ignites smoke composition 14.

It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a signaling device which can readily be actuated by using one hand. Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:

l. A hand-held signaling device comprising,

an outer container opened at both ends,

first and second inner containers within said outer container, said first container having a smoke composition therein and being extendable through one end of said outer container, and said second container having a flare composition therein and being extendable through the other end of said outer container, first and second springs for extending portions of said first and second inner containers, respectively, outwardly from said outer container,

latching means pivotally attached to said outer container for releasably retaining said inner containers within said outer container, first and second primers for igniting each said composition, first and second firing pins pivotally connected to said first and second inner containers, respectively, for detonating said primers, and first and second manually-actuated means for triggering said first and second firing pins. respectively. 2. A hand-held signaling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second manually-actuated means are attached to said first and second inner containers and surrounded by said outer container when.

said inner containers are retained in said outer container thereby preventing actuation of said firing pins.

3. A hand-held signaling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said manually-actuated means includes a shaft slidably mounted to an inner container and having a barrier attached to one end of said shaft, said barrier being positioned between a firing pin and a primer when said inner container is positioned within said outer container and said barrier being adaptable for retating said firing pin.

4. A hand-held signaling device as set forth in claim 3 wherein each said firing pin is biased by a spring wherein after a predetermined amount of rotation of a firing pin in one direction by linear movement of said barrier, said firing pin is disengaged from said barrier and rotated by said spring in an opposite direction to detonate a primer. 

1. A hand-held signaling device comprising, an outer container opened at both ends, first and second inner containers within said outer container, said first container having a smoke composition therein and being extendable through one end of said outer container, and said second container having a flare composition therein and being extendable through the other end of said outer container, first and second springs for extending portions of said first and second inner containers, respectively, outwardly from said outer container, latching means pivotally attached to said outer container for releasably retaining said inner containers within said outer container, first and second primers for igniting each said composition, first and second firing pins pivotally connected to said first and second inner containers, respectively, for detonating said primers, and first and second manually-actuated means for triggering said first and second firing pins, respectively.
 2. A hand-held signaling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second manually-actuated means are attached to said first and second inner containers and surrounded by said outer container when said inner containers are retained in said outer container thereby preventing actuation of said firing pins.
 3. A hand-held signaling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said manually-actuated means includes a shaft slidably mounted to an inner container and having a barrier attached to one end of said shaft, said barrier being positioned between a firing pin and a primer when said inner container is positioned within said outer container and said barrier being adaptable for rotating said firing pin.
 4. A hand-held signaling device as set forth in claim 3 wherein each said firing pin is biased by a spring wherein after a predetermined amount of rotation of a firing pin in one direction by linear movement of said barrier, said firing pin is disengaged from said barrier and rotated by said spring in an opposite direction to detonate a primer. 